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Equally important is providing owners tor” incidents in the marine environ- ers to track injuries and close calls so IACS strategy. Can you share with us with the tools and knowledge to make ment to reduce casualties? the question we wanted to answer was the overview content of these updates? the necessary choices for the long term. ABS has a unique perspective on this whether companies would pool the in- The IACS strategic plan addresses both

Today’s regulatory environment is rapid- issue because we work at the interface formation they had already collected. Its the current and future needs of the ship- ly shifting and the cost of compliance is of technology and the human factor. objective is to create a large international ping industry by focusing on three key putting pressure on owners as never be- There is no question that new technol- database of injury and close call (near areas: structural, machinery and cyber fore—impacting future capex and long ogy and increasing use of big data will miss) incidents which can be reviewed system integrity. On the IACS website term sustainability. reshape and transform the way we think and analyzed to identify trends, possible speci? c initiatives are listed and topics

Class has had to become far more and work. causes, and potential lessons learned. addressed range from human factors to proactive in recent years. At ABS, this But I think the real value of big data It is time to change industry’s view Energy Ef? ciency Design Index (EEDI) means taking a holistic approach to the will come from its secondary usage not of Human factors in shipping. There is to LNG Bunkering and continued re- role of de? ning safety, operational ef- just its primary applications. a growing recognition that safety cul- search on whipping of container ships.

? ciency and compliance with environ- ABS focuses on the critical role of the ture is key to the most familiar, concrete Priorities for 2015-2016 strike a bal- mental regulations. This is essential to human element as the root of effective goals of business: ef? ciency, productiv- ance between the completion of ongoing maintaining the con? dence of industry safety standards and practices. The ABS ity, quality and pro? tability. Integrating projects and the need to look forward and to ensuring that the role of Class re- Safety & Human Factors Group is work- Human Factor design practices and prin- and formulate the next generation of mains in touch with rapidly changing in- ing on the ergonomic design of marine ciples that re? ect human capabilities and IACS guidelines, uni? ed and procedural dustry needs. As the marine and oil and engineering spaces, and providing guid- limitations can result in installations that requirements, addressing existing and gas industries evolve, so do the expecta- ance on other technical aspects of the on- are more cost-effective, safer and easier emerging challenges.

tions for Class services. board habitat to assist industry with safe- to operate and maintain. One of our top priorities is the com- guarding the human element in maritime We cannot ignore the importance of pletion of the IMO Goals Based Stan-

While, for example, bridge technol- and offshore environments. the human in the Big Data and technol- dards Process in manner that is techni- ogy is better than ever and our abil- We play an important role in setting a ogy reality. At the end of the day it is the cally sound and responsive. Looking at ity to track and monitor assets at sea benchmark for monitoring personal safe- common sense, innovation and creativ- emerging issues facing the industry, I is without compare historically, ships ty at sea through the Mariner Personal ity that people possess that prevails and believe IACS needs to clearly establish a continue to collide; while technology Safety project, which is a collaborative de? nes this new Big Data reality. role in cyber safety. Individual class so- and accrued knowledge to build ships effort between ABS, Lamar University cieties already are working on this most stronger, ships continue to break: of Beaumont, Texas and maritime indus- You recently took the helm as IACS pressing issue, and IACS formed the Ex-

What is being done, or should be done, try partners around the world. chair, and I understand that IACS will pert Group Cyber Systems in 2015. The to address the number of “human fac- The ISM Code already requires own- release a document with an updated group’s scope and terms of reference www.marinelink.com 43

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